RBC sees no big impact from Fed foreign bank plan

TORONTO (Reuters) - A proposal by a top U.S. Federal Reserve official to subject foreign banks operating in the United States to the same tough oversight rules as their U.S. rivals would not have much impact on Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO, RBC's chief executive said on Thursday.

Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo's plan would force the largest U.S. divisions of foreign banks to establish holding companies that would cover all subsidiaries. The holding companies would have to comply with the same capital rules that cover U.S. banks.

Under the proposal, the Fed would stop relying on foreign oversight of banks.

Canadian lenders RBC, Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO, and Bank of Montreal BMO.TO have large U.S. operations. RBC is Canada's largest bank.

Speaking on a conference call to discuss the bank's year-end results, RBC CEO Gordon Nixon played down the potential impact on the bank's U.S. operations.

"If it's something that we have to manage around, the impact will be more around just in terms of how we're structured," he said. "In terms of business it will have no impact whatsoever."

TD would not comment on the potential impact, while BMO did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Both banks report results next week and may be more willing to comment on the issue at that time.

Brad Smith, an analyst at Stonecap Securities, said the rules would force Canadian banks to take a close look at their business lines.

"This is not great news for any Canadian bank as it will likely push up the amount of capital required to run their U.S. businesses," he said in a note.

RBC runs a large U.S. wholesale bank, while TD operates a 1,300-branch retail bank in the United States. BMO has more than 650 branches in the U.S. Midwest following its 2011 acquisition of Wisconsin lender Marshall & Illsley.